South Bay arts calendar for Feb. 21 to 26

“What Is It About Trees?” has its opening reception on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the El Camino College Art Gallery, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance. It’s a group show with a forestful of artists, and some of them will join in on the Artists’ talk, Tuesday, March 3, at 1 p.m. in the gallery. Closes March 12. Pictured, “Trees,” by Roger Fuentes. (310) 660-3010

“What Is It About Trees?” has its opening reception on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the El Camino College Art Gallery, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance. It’s a group show with a forestful of artists, and some of them will join in on the Artists’ talk, Tuesday, March 3, at 1 p.m. in the gallery. Closes March 12. Pictured, “Trees,” by Roger Fuentes. (310) 660-3010

Friday, February 21
Getting soulful
The Joanna Medawar Nachef Singers perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Rolling Hills United Methodist Church, 26438 Crenshaw Blvd, Rolling Hills Estates. The program, “Gospel, Motown, Spirituals,” is sure to be lively and vibrant. Free, donations appreciated. (310) 377-6771 or go to rhumc.org.

Releasing their potential
Freedom4U offers youth-oriented, peer-drive activities in the creative arts, and “Art Expression Night” is happening at 7 p.m. in the Alta Vista Community Center, 715 Julia Ave, Redondo Beach. It features live music and art activities. Admission, $5 teens and $10 adults. (310) 897-5043.

Top-notch world cinema
“Il Cinema Ritrovato on Tour” has a stop at Loyola Marymount University, Friday and Saturday, as well as Monday through Wednesday. The screenings are free and being held in the Mayer Theater (Communication Arts Bldg. 100), on LMU’s Westchester campus at 1 LMU Dr, Los Angeles. Parking is free on weekends; paid parking from 8 to 8 in Drollinger Parking Plaza, just a hop, skip, and jump away from the theater. Features include Djibril Diop Mambéty’s “Touki Bouki” (1973) and “The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun” (1999), Jane Campion’s “The Piano” (1993), Agnès Varda’s “Varda by Agnès” (2019), and Louis Malle’s “Elevator to the Gallows” (1958). To view the entire program and to RSVP, go to lmu.edu/cinema.

“The Giver,” a futuristic, multimedia play adapted for the stage by Eric Coble, based on the book by Lois Lowry, closes Saturday in the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave, Westchester. Performances Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets, $22, less $2 seniors, students, and servicemen. Pictured, Gavin Glynn as The Giver. The boy on the bicycle is Jack Heath. (310) 645-5156 or go to kentwoodplayers.org

A world where life is ordered
“The Giver,” a futuristic, multimedia play adapted for the stage by Eric Coble, based on the book by Lois Lowry, closes on Saturday in the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave, Westchester. The community in this story is precisely choreographed: no conflict, divorce, unemployment, injustice, and no choice. We follow a character named Jonas as he (we assume) tries to free himself of this unsavory lifestyle. Performances on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets, $22, less $2 seniors, students, and servicemen. (310) 645-5156 or go to kentwoodplayers.org.

Saturday, February 22
Sipping it slowly
Ted Lange’s play, “Blues in My Coffee,” is being performed at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Ken Miller Recreation Center Auditorium, 3341 Torrance Blvd, Torrance. Two African American fellows are having coffee at Starbucks and each sees a woman he’s like to pursue. One’s a blonde (which doesn’t mean she’s Caucasian, but probably is), the other is African American. This is a romantic comedy with dark edges… and a surprise ending. Tickets, $30. Call (310) 781-7171.

The 7th Annual “Johnny Cash Birthday Tribute” features Humble Harry, with Alyssa Barron, and it takes place at 9 p.m. in the Hermosa Saloon, 211 Pacific Coast Hwy, Hermosa Beach. All of Johnny’s hits, and duets. Free before 9 p.m.; $5 cover after 9 p.m. “The show must go on,” Humble Harry says. Quoting Johnny Cash: “I’m gonna sing till the day I die.” (310) 374-9060

Saluting the man in black
The 7th Annual “Johnny Cash Birthday Tribute” features Humble Harry, with Alyssa Barron, and it takes place at 9 p.m. in the Hermosa Saloon, 211 Pacific Coast Hwy, Hermosa Beach. All of Johnny’s hits, and duets. Humble Harry’s been ailing, badly, so he says this could be the last one. But, he notes, “The show must go on,” and, quoting Johnny Cash, “I’m gonna sing till the day I die.” (310) 374-9060.

Heard it through the grapevine
Presented by Surf City Theatre, Neil Simon’s “Rumors” opens at 8 p.m. in the Second Story Theater, 710 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach. Ten shows in all: Friday and Saturday at 8, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m., through March 8. Directed by Katie Kirkpatrick. Tickets, $28. Call (424) 241-8040 or go to surfcitytheatre.com.

“The Andrews Brothers,” with toe-tapping music from the 1940s big-band era made famous by The Andrews Sisters and their USO tours, opens at 8 p.m. on Friday in the International City Theatre, located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, 330 E. Seaside Way, Long Beach. Additional performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8 and Sunday at 2 p.m., through March 8. Tickets, $55 opening night, which includes a post-show reception with the actors (or $125 if you’d like to throw in dinner as well); otherwise, $49 Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and $52 Sunday matinees. Pictured, l-r, Kelley Dorney, Grant Hodges, Michael D’Elia, and Max DeLoach. Photo by Tracey Roman. (562) 436-4610 or go to InternationalCityTheatre.org

Choreography dance showcase
La Imperial Dance, celebrating two years in business locally, showcases various styles of dance, including the Viennese waltz, paso doble, salsa, swing, Bollywood, and tango. It all starts at 6:30 p.m. and features a cocktail hour, dinner, performances, and afterparty. Tickets, $45. The address is Green Street Center, 903 N. Catalina, Redondo Beach. (310) 372-7600 or go to laimperialdance.com.

“Love Hurts” is on view through Feb. 29 at ShockBoxx Gallery in Hermosa Beach. See work by Debbie Korbel, Dustin Grabiner, Mike Collins, Wendy Layne, and KT. Pictured, work by Debbie Korbel. More at shockboxxproject.com

Local celebs and pro dancers
“Dancing with the South Bay Stars” is taking place at 7 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. This is the 9th annual event. Tickets, $65, $45, $35. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to torrancearts.org.

It’s never pain-free
“Love Hurts” is on view through Feb. 29 at ShockBoxx Gallery, 636 Cypress Ave, Hermosa Beach, featuring the art of Debbie Korbel, Dustin Grabiner, Mike Collins, KT, Wendy Layne, and others. Visit shockboxxproject.com.

Sunday, February 23
The master and his music
The Peninsula Symphony, under the baton of Gary Berkson, presents “Celebrating Beethoven: 250 Years Old Part I” at 7 p.m. in the Redondo Union High School Auditorium, 631 Vincent St, Redondo Beach (PCH at the corner of Diamond). Violinist Andrew Sords, cellist John Walz, and pianist Timothy Durkovic perform the “Triple Concerto,” and the Peninsula Symphony also plays the “Symphony No. 3 (Eroica).” There’s a 6:15 p.m. pre-concert lecture for members, so come and sign up! Free. (310) 544-0320 or go to Pensym.org.

Wednesday, February 26
Reaching for the heavens
“What Is It About Trees?” has its opening reception from 7 to 9 p.m. in the El Camino College Art Gallery, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance. It’s a large group show with a forestful of artists, and some of them will join in on the Artists’ talk, Tuesday, March 3, at 1 p.m. in the gallery. Closes March 12. Call (310) 660-3010. ER

Comments:

comments so far. Comments posted to EasyReaderNews.com may be reprinted in the Easy Reader print edition, which is published each Thursday.